ACPA responds for federal budget

By BCShippingNews 22 March 2017

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities commends strong commitment to Canada’s trade-enabling transportation in Budget 2017

The Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA), the organization that represents the eighteen Canada Port Authorities in the National Ports System, as well as companies doing business in the marine sector, is encouraged by the Government of Canada’s commitment to support and enhance our country’s competitiveness through significant infrastructure investments in our ports and transportation corridors.

“We welcome the focus this government has placed on our marine ports and national trade corridors and the recognition the critical role these assets play in our global economic competitiveness” said Wendy Zatylny, President of ACPA. “We know that 90 per cent of everything we purchase has spent some time as marine cargo, making its way along a maritime route. By enhancing port and trade corridor capacity, we will be driving economic development and diversity, creating good, middle-class jobs and ensuring long term economic stability.”

Zatylny added that ACPA was also encouraged by the recognition of transportation infrastructure as a key component of the Innovation Agenda. “The inclusion of transportation and infrastructure within the government’s plan for superclusters is a welcome acknowledgement that transportation is indeed an innovative industry. Our ports create knowledge-intensive and technologically sophisticated jobs and support hundreds of thousands of highly skilled workers along the global supply chain,” she added. “We have long known our port authorities are repositories for the best international practices in logistics management, and we look forward to partnering with government to maximize this potential.”

About the Association of Canadian Port Authorities

Founded in 1958, the Association of Canadian Port Authorities brings together 18 ports and related marine interests into one national association. As the leading Association for the advocacy and advancement of Canada’s port industry — representing all Canadian Port Authorities, various government entities and companies doing business in the marine sector — ACPA is the champion for Canadian ports in matters related to government policy, trade, competitiveness and public awareness in order to contribute to sustainable transportation.

ACPA members contribute significantly to the local, regional and national economy of Canada, responsible for nearly a quarter of a million direct and indirect jobs, have donated more than $22 million to their local communities (2010-2014), receive more than 1.3 million cruise ship passengers and handling some $203 billion in import and export cargo annually.